If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding: Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)

Exalted in mind, just open and clearly aware, the recluse trained in the ways of the sages:One who is such, calmed and ever mindful, He has no sorrows! -- Udana IV, 7

Not sure if you want comments on this thread, so feel free to delete this (or maybe we need a "comments" thread?) but I think you've made an excellent choice to just pick out some of the Suttas that Bhikkhu Bodhi covers, otherwise it might move a little slowly.

This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!Blog,-Some Suttas Translated,Ajahn Chah."Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."

I'd like the Nibbana Sermons by Venerable Nanananda but I understand if that might not a choice of interest to the masses... and there are quite a few of them.

So unless other people jump up and say they're keen, feel free to let this idea slip.

Metta,Retro.

If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding: Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)

Exalted in mind, just open and clearly aware, the recluse trained in the ways of the sages:One who is such, calmed and ever mindful, He has no sorrows! -- Udana IV, 7

The first three suttas studied, the Ratana, Mahāmaṅgala, and Mettā Suttas, are among the most popular texts in Theravada Buddhism. They provide the backbone of understanding, practice, and attitude in the Theravada Buddhist world and are often taught to lay people so that they will grow up imbibing the values and ideals of Buddhism. They also serve as paritta suttas (“Protective Discourses”), recited to provide blessings and protection in times of difficulty and danger.

BlackBird wrote:Could we have a look at some of the Sutta Nipata at some stage? I have heard it referred to as a bit of a hidden gold-mine, and my wanderings through it thus far have been fruitful.

Jack

"For a disciple who has conviction in the Teacher's message & lives to penetrate it, what accords with the Dhamma is this:'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta

If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding: Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)

Exalted in mind, just open and clearly aware, the recluse trained in the ways of the sages:One who is such, calmed and ever mindful, He has no sorrows! -- Udana IV, 7

i think after the Sutta Nipata it would be best to move on to the Itivuttaka as not only is it available online but they are short suttas. After that is done we can come up with something else. suggestions are most welcome

jc

สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ

the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat

If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding: Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)

Exalted in mind, just open and clearly aware, the recluse trained in the ways of the sages:One who is such, calmed and ever mindful, He has no sorrows! -- Udana IV, 7

I've agreed to take over the Study Group for the time being. JC had taken us through quite a lot of the Sutta Nipata, but I've noticed that discussion has trailed off a little on that, so my plan is to alternate the rest of the Sutta Nipata Suttas with a selection of other Suttas. In particular, I will try to post some suttas for which there are alternative translations available.

First up is: MN 131 Bhaddekaratta Sutta: The Discourse on the Ideal Lover of Solitude.I have posted the translation by Bhikkhu Ñanananda, but Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation is also available. Also note that the translation of the Majjhima Nikaya by Bhikkhus Ñanamoli and Bohdi available at: http://www.palicanon.org but you have to register to read them.

I think that JC would have appreciated the translated title that Bhikkhu Ñanananda has chosen.

Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote:I suggest you might take [the Samyutta Nikaya] inwhat seems to me to be the original order, the most reasonable order,preserved better in the Sarvastivada school (in Chinesetranslation). In the Pali tradition, it seems, the books of theSamyutta were re-arranged and as a result one loses sight of theunderlying groundplan. As I see it from the Chinese Samyukta Agama,this collection attempted, in broad terms, to mirror the pattern ofthe four noble truths. One should begin with Part III (of the Pali),22-the Khandha-samyutta, followed by Part IV, 35-theSalayatana-samyutta and 36-Vedana-samyutta. These were to representthe noble truth of suffering.

Then take Part II, the Nidana-samyutta [12]. This represents the nobletruths of the origin and cessation of suffering. You can also look atPart IV-43 and 44-which again relate to the truth of cessation.

Then take Part V [45-56], just about all the chapters areimportant. This is called in Pali the Mahavagga, the largecompilation, but in the Chinese Samyukta Agama it was calledMargavagga, the compilation on the path; for it represents the fourthtruth, the way to the cessation of suffering.

Thereafter you can take any of the minor chapters that catch yourinterest. Part I, the collection with verses, can be taken last. Inthe Samyukta Agama it was in fact put at the end, as a kind ofsupplement to the original Samyutta collection, but for some reasonthe early elders of the Theravada tradition moved it to the beginning,where it has effectively discouraged many brave souls who were intenton reading the Samyutta from proceeding further.

PS: I will alternate Suttas from the final chapter of the Sutta Nipata with the Samyutta Nikaya Suttas until we get the Sutta Nipata finished.

Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote:Then take Part II, the Nidana-samyutta [12]. This represents the nobletruths of the origin and cessation of suffering. You can also look atPart IV-43 and 44-which again relate to the truth of cessation.

we start the third part of Bhikkhu Bodhi's suggested analysis of the Samyutta Nikaya:viewtopic.php?f=25&t=345#p88300

Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote:Then take Part V [45-56], just about all the chapters areimportant. This is called in Pali the Mahavagga, the largecompilation, but in the Chinese Samyukta Agama it was calledMargavagga, the compilation on the path; for it represents the fourthtruth, the way to the cessation of suffering.

Members may recall that for the last three years we have been working through the SN using the ordering suggested by Bhikkhu Bodhi: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=345#p88300 which is the ordering of the Chinese Samyukta Agama. Of course, we have not covered every sutta, there are too many for that!

Having covered the suttas that thematically represent the noble truths, there are now an assortment of suttas that do not fit into those themes, including the first book (of verses), http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... ml#sagatha which is at the end of the Samyukta Agama.

From next week we will alternate some of the remaining SN suttas with suttas from the Anguttara Nikaya, the Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. I intend to present those suttas in the thematic ordering suggested by Bhikkhu Bodhi in his recent new translation: http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/numerica ... ses-buddha